Idaho growth slows in 2011
SANDPOINT — Although 2011 saw Idaho’s population growth slow to a crawl, Bonner County wasn’t dragging it down.
According to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Idaho growth slowed to nine-tenths of a percent between mid-2010 and mid-2011. That factors out to a total estimated population of 1,584,985 on July 1, a 14,000 increase from last year. This is the first time the state has experienced a growth rate under one percent since 1990.
“What those numbers show is that the recession has locked people in,” Idaho Department of Labor communications manager Bob Fick said. “People have no reason to move anywhere else because the grass actually isn’t greener on the other side.”
Fick said in all likelihood, rock-bottom home values also contributed to the low growth. Home owners unable to secure a decent price for their property find themselves stuck in their current location even if a move could be professionally viable.
On the national scale, however, Idaho experienced superior growth than much of the nation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the recent growth data is good enough to rank the Gem State at a better-than-average 16th place. Natural births were the primary contributor to the growth rate — the census bureau reported 23,000 Idaho newborns over the year, more than double the number of deaths. Migration accounted for the remaining growth, with a paltry 62 newcomers from other states joining 2,100 people from other countries.
All the states were outperformed between July 2010 and July 2011 by the District of Columbia at 2.2 percent growth. Texas ranked next as the state with the best population growth at 1.7 percent growth. On the other end of the spectrum, Road Island’s population dropped by a tenth of a percent, while Michigan lost about 1,000 people.
Despite the slow year, signs indicate that Bonner County didn’t contribute to the sluggish growth. According to Idaho Department of Labor economist Alivia Body, the low numbers mostly centered in some of the southern counties.
“The Panhandle is a more attractive place to live for a lot of people,” she said. “A lot more secondary homes are purchased there.”
According to Body, Bonner County carries a long-standing reputation as a popular retirement community, and that might have helped the region keep its numbers solid during a slow year.
While the county-specific numbers between July 2010 and July 2011 haven’t been released, the county demonstrated sharp population increases in the mid-2000s, growing from 36,950 people in 2000 before plateauing at 40,877 by 2010. Although the county experienced a slight population decline in 2009, growth returned the next year at 0.2 percent.”
“According to past and current trends, Bonner County has been holding its own,” Body said.
Body said the major industries in Bonner County also contribute to a stable population. Businesses like Schweitzer Mountain Resort and attractions like the lake endear residents and newcomers alike while attracting seasonal workers. While Bonner County has been hurt by a downturn in the timber industry, Body said new businesses have helped make up the difference.
“North Idaho has done a better job of diversifying their economy in the past 10 years than a lot of other areas,” she said.